The CGI-EI integrates benefits and harms and yields a score that can be compared across interventions. It is made up of 2 subscales: therapeutic effects and side effects. Each rating is on a scale from 1 to 4. To combine these two subscales into the CGI-EI we report as our primary outcome, we subtracted the side effects subscale from the therapeutic effects subscale. Thus, the CGI-EI we report ranges the integers from -3 to +3 (i.e. possible scores are -3,-2,-1,0,1,2,3). A score of -3 is the most burdensome side effect score (4) and the least therapeutic effect score (1) and a score of +3 is the least burdensome side effect score (1) and the highest therapeutic effect score (4). Higher CGI-EI signifies better outcome (minimal side effects, maximal therapeutic effect). Lower CGI-EI signifies worse outcome (maximal side effects, minimal therapeutic effect).To compute CGI-EI score, we subtract the side effect score from the therapeutic effect score.

Necessary Clinical Adjustments [ Time Frame: 6 Months ]

Necessary Clinical Adjustment (NCA): The Medication Recommendation Tracking Form was developed and successfully implemented in a previous study to capture recommended medication changes at each study visit 17. Clinicians record dosage changes, missed doses, new medications added or discontinued, and specify the reason for each change. Any change in psychotropic medications, or medications used to treat side effects, is coded along with the reason for the change. NCAs include those changes made for lack of effectiveness or intolerance, but not changes for planned dose titrations.

The LIFE-RIFT asses the extent to which psychopathology has impacted current functioning in work, household chores, interpersonal relationships with partner, family, and friends, recreational activities, and life, satisfaction, leisure activities and social relationships.

Study participants will take lithium in addition to any other medications recommended by the study physician.

Drug: Lithium

600-900mg per day over 6 months

Other Name: Lithoboid, Eskalith

QTP + APT

Study participants will take quetiapine in addition to any other medications recommended by the study physician.

Drug: Quetiapine

100-800mg a day over 6 months

Other Name: Seroquel

Detailed Description:

Mood stabilizers, medications that prevent future mood episodes, are the foundation for treatment of bipolar disorder. While all published bipolar disorder treatment guidelines recommend that pharmacotherapy should include mood stabilizers for long-term maintenance treatment, no randomized comparative effectiveness studies have examined the real-world advantages and disadvantages of the newer second generation antipsychotic (SGA) mood stabilizers compared to the classic mood stabilizers, such as lithium (Li). No studies have looked at the effectiveness of SGAs compared to mood stabilizers when used in the context of other medications required to manage bipolar patients, since bipolar disorder patients take a median of 3 medications for optimal outcomes. Quetiapine (QTP) is the most extensively studied, broadly efficacious and the most widely prescribed SGA for bipolar disorder. The classic mood stabilizer Li has the largest evidence base for treating bipolar disorder, but has been largely supplanted by the SGAs.

Thus, this study compares symptomatic benefits and adverse effect burden between a QTP foundation with adjunctive personalized treatments (QTP+APT) and a mood stabilizer foundation consisting of Li with APT (Li+APT). APT will include any other medication needed with the following exceptions: the QTP+APT cannot receive Li and the Li+APT group cannot receive an antipsychotic. If, however, participants clinically require a switch to, or the addition of any other SGA or mood stabilizer, then those medications can be added as a rescue strategy that will be carefully recorded. Consistent with an effectiveness trial, participants will be able to continue in the study if they require a rescue treatment. The specific plan is a randomized, open, two arm, comparative effectiveness study of QTP+APT vs. Li+APT treatment for 6 months across 10 sites.

In summary, this comparative effectiveness study compares fundamentally different acute and continuation treatments for bipolar disorder. The investigators address the key question of whether to use a prototypical mood stabilizing SGA (i.e., QTP) or the classical mood stabilizer Li as the foundational treatment in the context of other necessary adjunctive personalized treatments (APT).

Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:

18 Years to 68 Years (Adult, Senior)

Sexes Eligible for Study:

All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

No

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Meets DSM-IV criteria for BD I or II, which is the primary focus of treatment

Able to give written informed consent

Age > to 18 years and < 68 years

Women of child bearing potential must agree to use adequate contraception (e.g. oral contraceptives, intrauterine device, barrier methods, or total abstinence from intercourse; Depo Provera is acceptable if it is started 3 months prior to enrollment), inform their doctor at the earliest possible time of their plans to conceive, and to understand the risks of lithium and other study treatments to the fetus and infant

If currently taking an SGA, participants would be required to be willing to either discontinue or switch to QTP

Willing to be randomized to either QTP+APT or Li+APT.

Exclusion Criteria:

Unwilling or unable to comply with study requirements

If maintained on thyroid medication must be euthyroid for at least 1 month before Visit 1

Patients who have had intolerable side effects with QTP or Li

Patients whose clinical status requires inpatient care

Drug/alcohol dependence within the past 30 days

Pregnancy as determined by urine pregnancy test or breastfeeding

History of nonresponse to Li at a serum level of ≥ 1.0 mEq/L ≥ 8 weeks

History of nonresponse to QTP at doses of at least 600 mg ≥ 8 weeks.

Contacts and Locations

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study.
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below.
For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01331304